Match container



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

aizwwibk ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1940.

H. w. MATALENE MATCH CONTAINER Filed Oct. 7, 1938 Feb. '20, 1940.. H. w. MATALENE MATCH CONTAINER I Filed Oct. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M w. m1 5 '2 f wlwhkk ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES ATENT cries Application October 7,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to containers for friction matches, and is particularly intended to provide a serviceable and structurally simple container for holding and presenting for use a a supply of pull-matches, so called, which are commonly put up in packets and are ignited by the act of withdrawal therefrom. The features of construction and combination in which my invention resides are hereinafter described in con- 10 which- Figure l is a side elevation of one form of my container, with a supply of matches held in place therein;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Figure 3, the location of two match packets being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is mainly a plan view of the container and contents illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with a portion broken away to show one of the match packets and adjacent parts in horizontal section on the line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial vertical section on the line 22 in Figure 3, drawn to a larger scale and showing one of the match packets and the adjacent parts of the container;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of one of the match packets, drawn to the same scale as Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a form of container similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but having a drawer in its base;

Figure 7 is mainly a side elevation of another form of my container, with portions broken away of construction;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the container illustrated in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a side elevation of a match packet described below.

In its simplest form, my container is a twopart structure consisting essentially of a receptacle adapted to hold a quantity of matches and a removable inner member which, when in place in the receptacle, confines the matches nection with the accompanying drawings, in

and in vertical section to show certain details match packets l2'when placed vertically in the receptacle with each packet in contact on one side with one of the walls H and overlapping at one end the adjacent end of the next packet, as shown in Figure 3. this position by means of a removable inner member it of such size and shape that it fits snugly against the inner sides of the four packets when it is inserted into the open space between them, and the height of the parts H, and I3 is such that the free ends of the matches i211, project'above the container sufiiciently to enable them to be grasped and withdrawn vertically.

While the inner member I3 is primarily a locking device for holding the match packets in place, it preferably has the form of a tray with an open top, so that it can be used to receive burnt matches and cigar or cigarette ashes, and as it is removable by lifting it vertically it can be easily emptied, when necessary, without disturbing the other parts of the container or the match packets therein. After the tray has been removed, any of the match packets can be removed and replaced by another, but so long as the tray is in place in the outer'receptacle it is impossible for any packet to move laterally or endwise.

A form of match packet which is Suitable for use in the container above described, and is available in the market, is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5. This packet is made of two strips, l4 and I5, of thin cardboard of which the strip' M forms inner and outer side walls and the top and bottom walls of the packet, and the strip I5 forms its end walls and reinforces its side walls. Except at the top of the packet, the strip I 4 passes twice around the space occupied by the matches lZa and provides two bottom walls l6 and I1, one located above the other and separated therefrom by a space of suflicient .depth to receive the heads of the matches, the inner bottom wall l6 being perforated as at l8 to receive the individual matches and permit their removal when pulled upward. The wall l9 at to receive the upper portions of the matches, which project a short distance above these perforations, and just below the top wall I9, the inner surface of the strip M is provided on both sides of the matches with a' coating M of a material which causes them to ignite when pulled out of the packet. The strip I5 extends horizontally around the matches between the inner and outer side walls formed by the strip l4, thereby closing the packet by providing end walls 22.

In this form of packet the outer end of the The packets are retained in the top of the packet is also perforated, as at 20,

strip l4 terminates just below the top of the packet, where it and the adjacent portion of the strip l5 form a shoulder 23 which may be utilized to prevent vertical movement of the packet, when a match is pulled out of it, by providing an inwardly-projecting horizontal lip 2d at the upper end of each of the side walls ll, in position to overlie the shoulder 23 if the packet is placed in the container with its shouldered side facing the corresponding side wall I I, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a form of my container which differs from the form illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in that it is made enough higher to enable a drawer 25, suitable for holding a supply of cigarettes 26, to be located in its base portion, thus providing in one structure a complete outfit for use by cigarette smokers. The matchholding parts are identical with those in the form of container first described.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a form of my container in which the match-receiving space has a circular configuration and is adapted to hold a match packet in the form of a long strip, such as is shown at ill in Figure 9. According to this modification, the base 28 supports a vertical hollow cylinder preferably made in two parts, of which the upper part 29 rests upon the lower part 3! but can be separated therefrom by merely lifting it, the meeting edges of the two partsbeing formed with engaging shoulders 3i to prevent relative lateral movement. Collectively, the parts 28 and 30 provide in the lower portion of the structure a receptacle for cigarettes standing on end and removable as needed after the upper part 29 has been lifted.

Above the cigarette space, the part 29 has secured to it, on the inside, a cylinder 32 which is open at its upper end and closed at its lower end by a bottom plate 33, and is of suitable depth to receive the match packet 2?. This packet is long enough to extend around the interior of the cylinder 32 in contact therewith, when bent into circular shape, and is retained therein by a removable circular tray 34 which, when in place in the cylinder, forms the inner wall of the space occupied by the match packet. In this form of container it is not important to provide any inwardly-projecting lip at the upper edge of the cylinder 32, because the length and curved formation of the match packet 2i, supplemented by its frictional engagement with the parts 32 and 24, are sufiicient to prevent upward movement of the packet when a match is pulled out of it. It is obvious that the parts 29, 32 and 34 form a complete match holder and may be used as such, whether they are associated with the part it!) and its supporting base or not.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my invention provides a match container which is characterized by extreme simplicity, so far as its structural features are concerned, and that its details of construction can be easily varied, if necessary, to adapt it to hold match packets differing in their make-up from the one selected for specific description. Furthermore, its essential parts can be so shaped and ornamented as to embody a great variety of attractive designs, and these can be enhanced by appropriate selection of the materials available for use in making the several parts, such as wood, metal, various plastic materials and combinations thereof, whereby the container can be made highly ornamental as Well as useful.

I claim:

1. A match container comprising a base, a vertical cylinder supported thereby and made in separable upper and lower portions, a cylindrical receptacle carried by the upper portion of the cylinder and having an open top, and a cylindrical tray adapted to be removably inserted into said receptacle but having. a smaller diameter, thereby providing an annular space for the reception of a series of matches arranged vertically therein and held in place by the walls of the receptacle and the tray.

2. A match container comprising an outer receptacle having an open top and adapted to hold one or more match packets standing on end therein, with the matches projecting upward in position to be withdrawn individually, and an inner receptacle supported directly on the bottom of the outer receptacle, independently of any packet so far as support by said. bottom is concerned, but unconnected to said bottom and freely removable from the outer receptacle to permit insertion or replacement of a packet, the upper end of said inner receptacle being readily accessible, said receptacles being shaped to provide outer and inner walls affording lateral support for the packet or packets and confining the same between them.

3. A match container comprising an outer receptacle having an open top and. adapted to hold one or more match packets standing on end therein, with the matches projecting upward in position to be withdrawn individually, an inner receptacle supported directly on the bottom of the outer receptacle, independently of any packet so far as support by said bottom is concerned, but unconnected to said bottom and freely removable from the outer receptacle to permit insertion or replacement of a packet, the upper end of said inner receptacle being readily accessible,

said receptacles being shaped to provide outer and inner walls affording lateral support for the packet or packets and confining the same between them, and a lateral projection carried by one of said walls in position to engage and prevent upward movement of a packet.

4. A match container comprising an open receptacle adapted to hold and provide lateral support for a supply of unconnected match packets standing on end in contact therewith and forming a single series extending around the interior of the receptacle, with the ends of the matches projecting upward in position to be withdrawn individually, and a removable tray proportioned. to fit the space within the collective packets and confine them between itself and the surrounding portion of the receptacle, with the tray and the match packets resting directly on the bottom of the receptacle independently of each other, whereby the packets are individually removable and replaceable after the tray has been withdrawn.

5. A match container comprising an open receptacle adapted to hold a single series of unconnected match packets and provide lateral support therefor when placed in uprightposition in contact with its side walls, and a removable tray proportioned to fit the space within the collective packets and confine them between itself and the walls of the receptacle, with the matches projecting upward in position to be withdrawn individually, the tray and the packets being supported directly by the bottom of the receptacle, in contact therewith and. independently of each other, whereby the packets are individually re- 10 inward from the upper end of each side wall to engage and prevent upward movement of the corresponding packet-and a removable tray proportioned to fit the space within the collective packets and confine them betweenitself and said side walls with the tray and the packets resting directly on the bottom of the receptacle independentlyioi each other, thereby enabling the packets to be removed individually and replaced after the tray has been withdrawn.

HENRY W. MATALENE. 0 

